Course Descriptions
Information on the Course Requirements in Physics:
- Astronomy & Physics Classes for Science Elective Credit
- From Quarks to the Cosmos
- Physics classes for Engineering Students
- Physics degree program classes:
Physics & Astronomy Classes for Science Elective Credit
ASTR 101 - Introduction to Astronomy
Emphasis is placed on the role of observation in the evolution of our theories
about the origins of the solar system, and of the size and structure of the
universe.
ASTR 201 - Solar System Astronomy
This course is concerned with the description of the fundamental properties of
our solar system. Topics include planetary interiors, surface structures and
atmospheres; asteroids, comets and meteorites; the formation of planetary
systems.
Prerequisites: ASTR 101.
ASTR 202 - Stars and Galaxies
This course is concerned with the properties of the stars and galaxies.
Topics include observational methods, stellar populations, stellar evolution,
galactic structure, and the large-scale structure of the universe.
Prerequisites: ASTR 101.
PHYS 109 - General Physics I
Course in general physics, including classical mechanics, and geometrical
optics. May not be taken for credit if student has received credit for PHYS 111
or 112.
Prerequisites: Mathematics B30 and C30.
PHYS 119 - General Physics II
A continuation of PHYS 109. The topics include fluid mechanics, heat and
thermodynamics, waves, sound, radiation, electrostatics and electric current.
May not be taken for credit if student has credit for PHYS 111 or 112.
Prerequisite: PHYS 109 or ENGG 140.
PHYS 142 - From Quarks to the Cosmos
A conceptual approach will be used in this course, which is geared towards
liberal arts students. The aim is to understand the physical world, from the
microscopic (building blocks of nature), through the macroscopic (everyday
phenomena), to the galactic (universe). No calculus, and only simple algebra
will be employed.
Note: This class does not have a lab. Physics majors may not take this
course for credit.
PHYS 319 - Health Physics
An introductory course in radiation, its sources and its biological
effects.
Prerequisite: PHYS 242 or PHYS 119.
Physics Classes for Engineers
PHYS 109 - General Physics I
Course in general physics, including classical mechanics, and geometrical
optics. May not be taken for credit if student has received credit for PHYS 111
or 112.
Prerequisites: Mathematics B30 and C30.
PHYS 119 - General Physics II
A continuation of PHYS 109. The topics include fluid mechanics, heat and
thermodynamics, waves, sound, radiation, electrostatics and electric current.
May not be taken for credit if student has credit for PHYS 111 or 112.
Prerequisite: PHYS 109 or ENGG 140.
PHYS 201 - Electricity and Magnetism
An introduction to electricity and magnetism for science and engineering
students, covering the topics of electrostatics, D.C. circuits, magnetism, and
electromagnetic induction.
Prerequisites: PHYS 111 or PHYS 112 or PHYS 119 or PHYS 129. PHYS 129 may be taken concurrently.
Corequisite: MATH 213.
PHYS 202 - Classical Mechanics I
A course in intermediate mechanics for physics majors and honours students as
well as engineering students. Topics include motion of systems of particles and
rigid bodies, accelerated reference frames, and central forces.
Prerequisites: PHYS 111, PHYS 112 or PHYS 119.
Corequisite: MATH 213.
PHYS 311 - Electromagnetism I (Cross-listed with ENEL 392)
Maxwell's equations, dielectric and magnetic properties of matter, and
multipoles.
Prerequisites: PHYS 201 and MATH 213.
Corequisite: MATH 217.
PHYS 315 - Selected Topics in Modern Physics
Selected topics from the areas of superconductivity, special theory of
relativity, nuclear technology, plasma physics, and lasers. A course for
engineering students; other students may take it with permission of the
department head.
Prerequisite: PHYS 201.
Corequisite: PHYS 311 recommended.
PHYS 319 - Health Physics
An introductory course in radiation, its sources and its biological
effects.
Prerequisite: PHYS 242 or PHYS 119.
Note: Engineering students who have completed PHYS 201 should
see the instructor regarding whether they are eligible to register
for this class.
PHYS 322 - Physical Optics and Electromagnetic Radiation
Maxwell's equations and e-m waves, the e-m spectrum, energy of an e-m wave,
Poynting vector, optics of planar surfaces, interference, coherence,
polarization, Rayleigh scattering, Cerenkov radiation and applications
including waveguides and antennas.
Prerequisite: PHYS 311.
Physics Degree Program Classes
PHYS 111 - Mechanics
Kinematics in one, two, and three dimensions; dynamics of particles and rigid
bodies, including work, energy, and rotational kinematics and dynamics.
Prerequisite: Physics 30.
Corequisite: MATH 110.
Note: Students cannot obtain credit for both PHYS 111 and ENGG 141.
Oscillations, wave motion, sound, geometrical and physical optics.
Prerequisite: PHYS 111 (recommended) or PHYS 109.
Corequisite: MATH 110/105.
PHYS 129 - General Physics with Calculus
Kinematics and dynamics in three dimensions, oscillations, wave
motion, sound and physical optics. This course serves as a transition
course from general physics to physics degree programs or as an
extension of topics introduced in Physics 109/119.
Prerequisite: PHYS 109 or PHYS 119.
Corequisite: MATH 105 or MATH 110.
Note: May not be taken for credit if credit received for PHYS 112.
PHYS 201 - Electricity and Magnetism
An introduction to electricity and magnetism for science and engineering
students, covering the topics of electrostatics, D.C. circuits, magnetism, and
electromagnetic induction.
Prerequisites: PHYS 111 or PHYS 112 or PHYS 119 or PHYS 129. PHYS 129 may be taken concurrently.
Corequisite: MATH 213.
PHYS 202 - Classical Mechanics I
A course in intermediate mechanics for physics majors and honours students as
well as engineering students. Topics include motion of systems of particles and
rigid bodies, accelerated reference frames, and central forces.
Prerequisites: PHYS 111, PHYS 112 or PHYS 119.
Corequisite: MATH 213.
PHYS 242 - Introduction to Modern Physics
Special theory of relativity, introduction to wave mechanics, early quantum
physics, Bohr atom, radioactivity, and nuclear reactions.
Prerequisite: PHYS 201.
PHYS 261 - Heat and Thermodynamics
An introduction to the concepts of temperature and thermometry, the laws of
thermodynamics and applications, kinetic theory.
Prerequisites: PHYS 111, PHYS 112 or PHYS 129 and MATH 111. PHYS 129 may be taken concurrently.
PHYS 292 - Physics of Continuous Media
An introduction to elasticity and elastic moduli, fracture, fluid statics,
fluid flow, viscous effects, compressible flow, ideal fluid flow and
applications.
Corequisites: PHYS 202, MATH 213 and MATH 217.
PHYS 301 - Classical Mechanics II
The mechanics of rigid bodies, Hamilton and Lagrange equations of motion and
their applications, oscillations and normal co-ordinates.
Prerequisites: PHYS 202 and MATH 213.
Corequisites: MATH 217.
PHYS 311 - Electromagnetism I
Maxwell's equations, dielectric and magnetic properties of matter, and
multipoles.
Prerequisites: PHYS 201 and MATH 213.
Corequisite: MATH 217.
PHYS 319 - Health Physics
An introductory course in radiation, its sources and its biological
effects.
Prerequisite: PHYS 242 or PHYS 119.
PHYS 322 - Physical Optics and Electromagnetic Radiation
Maxwell's equations and e-m waves, the e-m spectrum, energy of an e-m wave,
Poynting vector, optics of planar surfaces, interference, coherence,
polarization, Rayleigh scattering, Cerenkov radiation and applications
including waveguides and antennas.
Prerequisite: PHYS 311.
PHYS 342 - Atomic Physics
Operator formalism of modern quantum mechanics, commutation relations, the
Schrodinger equation and its applications for the harmonic oscillator and
one-dimensional potentials, central fields, the hydrogen atom and complex
atoms.
Prerequisites: PHYS 112 or PHYS 129, PHYS 242.
Corequisite: PHYS 351.
PHYS 351 - Mathematical Physics I
Curvilinear co-ordinates and special functions. Fourier series, integrals and
transforms, boundary value and initial value problems.
Prerequisites: MATH 213 and 215.
PHYS 352 - Mathematical Physics II
Tensor calculus, group theory, and non-linear dynamics.
Prerequisite: PHYS 351.
PHYS 362 - Statistical Mechanics
The theory of classical and quantum statistical mechanics and applications to a
number of systems of physical interest including lasers and atomic lasers.
Prerequisite: PHYS 261
Corequisite: PHYS 342.
PHYS 372 - Modern Experimental Physics
An intermediate laboratory course normally taken by physics majors and honours
students in their third year, from subject matter covered in third-year
courses.
Prerequisite: PHYS 201, 202, 242, 261 and 292.
PHYS 401 - Quantum Mechanics I
Axiomatic formulation, representations, angular momentum and spin, perturbation
theory, systems of identical particles, matrix mechanics.
Prerequisites: PHYS 301 and PHYS 342.
PHYS 411 - Advanced Classical Mechanics
Hamilton-Lagrange equations, Hamilton-Jacobi theory and applications,
transformation theory and special relativity.
Prerequisites: PHYS 301 and 351.
PHYS 421 - Solid State Physics
Physics of crystalline solids, binding, energy bands, lattice vibrations and
electronic properties.
Prerequisites: PHYS 342 and 362.
PHYS 430 - Introduction to General Relativity
Law of universal gravitation, the equivalence of inertial and gravitational
mass, Riemannian geometry, Einstein's field equations, Schwarzschild solution,
black holes and gravitational collapse, cosmology.
Prerequisite: PHYS 411.
PHYS 432 - Nuclear Physics
Radioactive decay mechanisms, interactions of nuclear radiation with matter,
spectroscopy, nuclear models, and applications to medicine, material science
and engineering.
Prerequisite: PHYS 342.
Corequisite: PHYS 401.
PHYS 442 - Introduction to Elementary Particle Physics
Classification of particles, particle detectors and accelerators, invariance
and conservation laws, hadron-hadron interactions, weak interactions, quark
model and group theory, introduction to QCD.
Prerequisite: PHYS 401.
PHYS 471 - Honours Physics Laboratory
Fourth-year lab combining modern experimental techniques together with material
from 400-level courses.
Prerequisite: PHYS 301, 311, 322, 342 and 372.
PHYS 490 - Physics Seminar
This course must be taken by all honours physics students in both semesters of
their fourth year and by applied/industrial physics co-op students in their
final semester of study. Students are required to attend all seminars
and in addition to present a seminar on a topic determined in consultation
with the department head.
PHYS 491-499 - Directed Readings
Courses designed to meet the specific needs of individual students. These courses are restricted to students in an honours program.